Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2)

“Someone helps this person,” Cree said after hearing Sloan explain.

“My thoughts as well,” Sloan agreed.

“You spent some time with Lucerne the other day. Do you think she is capable of such treachery?”

Sloan rubbed his chin. “She’s an odd one. One minute she was lashing out over just about everything and the next minute she collapsed against me, as if everything was too much of an ordeal for her. Damn, if she never stops complaining about how her head aches. And then just when I couldn’t take it anymore, she suddenly calmed and turned pleasant. She wears too many faces for my liking, which leaves me to think she cannot be trusted.”

“What of Bree? Can she be trusted or do you fancy her too much to see her clearly?”

Sloan cocked a brow. “Fancy her or not, I won’t let any woman blind me. She seems sincere enough and worried that she’ll be made to return to Lucerne and serve her. Old Mary doesn’t seem to have a bad word to say about her and since the old woman has an eye for seeing beyond, I figured she would know if the lass should not be trusted.”

“A point I considered myself,” Cree admitted. “What of Lucerne’s other servant? Magda is it?”

Sloan nodded. “She spends all her time stitching Lucerne’s garments and mostly keeps company with the servants that do the stitching for the keep.”

“Keep a good watch on them all,” Cree ordered. “There is something there that we are missing.”

Sloan nodded, and then cleared his throat.

“Say what you will,” Cree said knowing Sloan was preparing to say something that Cree might not want to hear.

“You’re not going to let you’re babe be born a bastard, are you?”

“No, never would I allow that.”

“What about the agreement you made with the King? He’ll take these lands from you if you don’t wed Gerwan’s daughter.”

“But Lucerne is not Gerwan’s daughter,” Cree said and went on to explain what Kirk had told him about his affair with Gerwan’s wife years ago. He then finished with, “And with McClusky land bordering Gerwan’s land it would give the King an even stronger hold on this area if he joined the two. Besides, he wants that port built and he knows I’m the only one capable of seeing it done. I can get this to work if I can prove without a doubt that Lucerne is not Gerwan’s daughter and that Dawn is Kirk’s daughter. I’m concerned though that the King will demand concessions. He’ll want to appease everyone so that no one rants against him.”

Sloan scratched his head. “Damn, this could work.”

“Yes, it could and while I rued the day that Kirk McClusky arrived here, I am now grateful that he did. And until we can sort this all out, Dawn—and now my child—are not safe.”

“The extra guards were added. She’ll not be able to go anywhere without them. And Kirk’s warriors also mull about her cottage. I don’t see how anyone could get to her.”

“How often have you known me to order her to stay put and she does otherwise? Add to that the many times you didn’t hear me tell her and you now know that Dawn does what she wants, when she wants.”

Sloan grinned. “Damn, I haven’t known anyone who dared not obey you.”

“I should have cut out that ton—” Cree stopped abruptly and shook his head.

Sloan’s grin grew. “Damn, can’t say it anymore, can you? Guess my tongue is finally free of worry… thanks to Dawn.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Cree snapped.

“Oh hell, we both know you would have never cut my tongue out. It was just a warning that I had gone too far.” Sloan laughed. “Now I can go as far as I like.”

Cree turned a murderous scowl on him.

“You’re going to have to do better than that,” Sloan said continuing to laugh.

“Keep it up, I’ll find a way to make you pay.”

“I don’t know about that,” Sloan teased.

Cree suddenly grinned. “I think you should remain by Lucerne’s side throughout this whole ordeal.”

Sloan’s smile quickly faded. “You don’t mean that.”

“But I do mean it,” he said and stood.

“I was only teasing you,” Sloan said in the way of an apology.

“I’m not,” Cree said and walked to the door. “Stay by her side every moment and see what you can find out.”

“What about Bree? Wouldn’t it be better if I became her shadow?”

“I’ll assign someone else to her.”

“Who?”

“Not your concern.”

Sloan shook his head as he walked over to join him at the door. “Having my tongue cut out would have been less painful.”

“But not as much fun for me,” Cree said and slapped him on the back.

Chapter Twenty-three

Dawn woke with a start. She wasn’t sure what woke her. It was as if someone yanked her out of her sleep. She didn’t mind; she felt rested and wanted out of bed. She hurried and dressed, all the while listening to her stomach rumble with hunger.